Chapter 1363
A Lively Night
Chapter 1363 A Lively Night
Wen Tao choked for a moment, then smiled and said, "Everyone should do their own job. Fighting is a matter between the Wei army and the court; it's the court's business. If..."
Wen Tao lowered his voice and said, "If we voluntarily donate our property, we'll be asked to donate it every now and then. How will we live like this? Besides, this would break the rules and cause the world to fall into chaos and the court to become corrupt."
Hey, Wen Tao actually has some skills; he's kind of right.
"But the situation is special now. If everyone doesn't fight the enemy with utmost loyalty, we will lose. Besides, the land belongs to everyone. If the land is occupied by the enemy, all the people of Wei will suffer." Si Pei's awareness is quite high: "Therefore, when foreign enemies invade, we should do everything in our power to resist them. If the court is inhumane after the war, we can rebel against the court. In short, what we need to do is..."
"Hey! Hey! Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting in my house!" Wen Tao swore, "My Wen family is loyal to the court, heaven and earth can bear witness. Even if the court has done something wrong, the Wen family will only remonstrate to the death, not do what you say!"
"You want to donate supplies to fight the enemy? Donate, donate, my Wen family will donate."
Wen Tao was afraid of Si Pei and agreed to give him supplies, only asking that Si Pei get out of here as soon as possible!
Si Pei corrected him: "It's not about donating money, it's about integrating all the resources in the city for the purpose of fighting the enemy. In short, it's not about forcing everyone, it's about getting through this difficult time."
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." Wen Tao was very disdainful. There were plenty of nice words, but no matter how seriously he put it, he still wanted our supplies!
My lords and young master, I am suffering! When will you help me move to Liangjiang or the capital, so that I can be far away from this desolate and cold land?
Si Pei was stunned and very sad, but this time he did not cry. Instead, he bowed solemnly to Mr. Wen Tao and said, "On behalf of the Wei people and this land, I thank Uncle Tao for his all-out rescue efforts. I am deeply grateful."
He bowed three times, his whole body overflowing with piety. Wen Tao felt annoyed: "You bastard, I'm not dead yet, and you're doing this?"
"Uncle Tao, you should first set aside enough supplies for your entire family, including servants and elders, for six months, and then hand over any surplus supplies to the government troops. There's no need to donate all the supplies," Si Pei reminded him.
Wen Tao retorted: "What are you trying to tell me? Do you think I'm that stupid? That I'd donate my entire private savings? You should be thrilled if I donate half."
But Wen Tao continued to pretend: "Okay, Uncle Tao will remember... It's late, you should all go back to your lodgings and rest."
Are you done talking? Now get out of here.
"It's not over yet," Si Pei continued, "Could Uncle Tao contact the head of a large family? Or other old aristocratic families, and ask the aristocratic alliance to help find ancient history books and ancient maps?"
Ha, that brat is really asking for death!
But it's fine if you die, just don't drag the Wen family down with you.
"I, Uncle Tao, know nothing about matters concerning the head of the household, ancient history books, or ancient maps. This is the first time I've heard you speak of them, so I can't help you, Nephew Pei. You should ask someone else." Wen Tao began to sell his connections: "For example, the Zheng family, the Yan family, and the Guan family. They definitely know more than I do."
Si Pei felt regret but not disappointment. He smiled and took out the donation book: "Thank you for your generosity, Uncle Tao. Please sign your name and put your fingerprint on it."
Damn it!
Wen Tao was cursing inwardly, but he still smiled and signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.
Si Pei was delighted: "We have more supplies now, so the soldiers and civilians in the city will have supplies to fight the enemy. We won't have to worry about food while fighting the enemy."
Stop dawdling, get done and get out of here.
Si Pei sensed Wen Tao's impatience and wisely took his leave: "I'm sorry to have bothered you tonight. I was wrong. I'll bring you an apology gift another day... The supplies won't be given away for nothing; they'll be counted as military merits. Don't worry, Uncle Tao."
After saying this, he gestured for Sifeng to leave.
Si Feng walked even faster than him, afraid that he would dawdle, and pulled him all the way out of the Wen Tao family's gate, got into the carriage and left, before letting go of him. "Brother Pei, next time if you need to trouble the Wen family, just have Wen Xiangnan come, you don't need to do it yourself." Si Feng was clever and taught Si Pei to sell Wen Xiangnan.
Si Pei shook his head: "This will put Wen in a difficult position and push him into a reputation for being unfilial. It would be better for me, an outsider, to play the villain."
Si Feng was shocked and looked Si Pei up and down, wanting to ask Master Xun to perform a shamanistic ritual to exorcise the evil spirits from him.
I also felt that this was very much like Si Pei.
Si Feng bowed respectfully and said sincerely, "It is my good fortune to have such a kind and benevolent elder brother as Pei Ge."
"Hahaha, now you know your brother is a rare good person, right? So you were blind before, you have to change, and you have to listen to me more, otherwise it will be a great loss for your branch, understand?" Si Pei was very pleased and acted like an older brother, lecturing Si Feng.
Si Feng: "..." Damn it, is he sick? Can't he just talk to Si Pei like a normal person?
"Master, drive faster, we still have many more places to visit," Si Pei urged, beaming with joy, eager to rush to the next house and continue raiding their private warehouses.
That night, the capital city was bustling with activity. Si Pei smashed the doors of powerful families and demanded supplies; Wei soldiers went door-to-door searching and confiscating the property of criminals such as the Tong family, Master Kang, the Bai family, Young Master Chen, and Master Yun.
However, the King of Ye issued a royal decree that the women should not be disturbed and their dowries should not be touched.
But Madam Kang the Sixteenth was still not satisfied. She cried and made a scene, threatening to hang herself: "Stop! You bandits, stop! This is my Kang family's property! You can't take it! You can't take it! If you take it again, I'll hang myself! Let's see how you Wei army and the Prince of Ye explain this to His Majesty!"
"His Majesty issued a special decree because of Empress Yan, ordering that the women of the families involved in the case be treated well. By forcing me to my death, you are defying the imperial decree, and defying the imperial decree will result in the execution of your entire family!"
"It's just a job, are you going to risk your whole family's lives to do it?!"
"That old hag is indeed cunning!" Commander Qu knew this old woman was not easy to deal with, so he led his troops to help. As soon as he arrived, he saw her making a scene: "You even brought up His Majesty as a scapegoat. His Majesty's benevolence is not something a cunning old hag like you can exploit!"
"Brothers, keep moving supplies. Not only should the Kang family's treasury be emptied, but the private granaries of Master Kang the Sixteenth's branch should also be searched and emptied."
"This...this...you're trying to wipe out my entire clan! You're trying to kill us all, you're robbing us! You're robbing us!!" Kang Shiliu's wife went mad, rushing down from the hanging stool to attack Commander Qu.
They were blocked by a row of shield soldiers and couldn't even touch Commander Qu.
Qu Qianhu sneered: "We didn't even confiscate your dowry, nor did we confiscate the private treasuries of your other sons, so why are we taking your life?"
"Second Master Kang is the son of Sixteenth Master Kang. Second Master Kang also has a share in the private granary of Sixteenth Master Kang's branch. Second Master Kang has broken the law, and it is permissible to confiscate his private property in accordance with the law!"
"Don't worry, the government troops will only confiscate the private warehouse of Master Kang the Second in accordance with the law. They won't touch the private warehouses of your other sons... But we have to open all the private warehouses of Master Kang the Sixteenth first before we can distribute the private warehouses among the people. Otherwise, if we confiscate them all, your family will suffer losses."
Madam Kang Shiliu nearly vomited blood: "You...you...you're just spouting nonsense, you bandit..."
Qu Qianhu ignored her and let the old woman scold him.
When they cursed the bandits for the third time, Commander Qu and his soldiers perked up: "Commander, Commander, that's enough cursing. Now we can prosecute them and confiscate their private property!"
I'm so excited! We'll get another batch of supplies to supplement our military funds.